Not nearly talked about enough on the regional scene is Muhammad Zwolak. He’s a featherweight prospect sitting at 8–2, currently riding a two-fight win streak. In reality, it could easily be an eight-fight win streak if not for a heel hook loss in a fight he was largely controlling.
Zwolak trains out an excellent gym under UFC/MMA vets Zac Cummings and Jason High. The glaring thing you’ll see on Zwolak’s record is a lack of finishes. He’s not this super exciting fighter, but I, for one, can appreciate a dominant fighter. It’s also not like he doesn’t have finishing upside because he’s coming off a finish.
A big part of Zwolak’s style is positional safety and control. He doesn’t tend to force risks if the finish isn’t there, which keeps him dominant but sometimes limits urgency. With his wrestling and jiu-jitsu, he probably could afford to be more aggressive in certain spots, especially given how rarely he actually finds himself in danger. He has the jiu-jitsu and wrestling to get out of any bad position. Outside of his two losses, he’s been in near-complete control of his fights.
The identity of his game is pressure. He’s not always the most technically thought-out, but his motor and pressure bail him out a lot. His takedown setups aren’t the prettiest—he shoots from too far out—but the high takedown rate is a testament to his actual wrestling ability.
Wrestling isn’t always about the first level; it’s about the second and third level. Zwolak has multiple ways to get takedowns, and it comes from his ability to chain wrestle. He can shoot a blast double, drive through, and cut the corner to finish. From the clinch, he’s a beast with upper-body lock takedowns. He uses them to lift and dump opponents, even hitting suplex-style throws. He also utilizes trips effectively. When he shoots low enough and gets his hands locked, he can elevate guys and slam them down emphatically. You know what you’re going to get with Zwolak, but stopping him is the problem. He’s too aggressive and too strong to keep upright once he gets a hold of you.
Zwolak hasn’t spent much time on his feet, so it’s still unknown how he’d look if he can’t close the distance. I do commend him for sticking to what he’s good at, and I’m sure he’s getting the proper training for his striking when it’s needed.
I’d like to see more of a killer instinct, but I don’t ever want him to abandon his wrestling, even a little. He has the skill and gas tank to wreak havoc on the division.
Watch Mo Zwolak this Saturday at Fighting Alliance Championship (FAC) 34 in the main event. He takes on Jose Hernandez (7-2, 1 NC) in his toughest fight to date. You can watch the fight live on Spectation Sports.
